Syracuse city councilor proposes giving mayor a $30,000 raise

Council members ask that the measure be resubmitted for
further discussion.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

By Meghan Rubado

Staff writer

A proposal to raise the Syracuse mayor's salary by
$30,000 caused a stir Wednesday at City Hall.

The proposal, initiated by Councilor Van Robinson, would
increase the annual pay for the position of mayor to
$115,000, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008. The current salary of
$84,388 hasn't been adjusted since 1994.

But the other city councilors were surprised to the see the
item Wednesday on their study session agendas. That was
because Robinson hadn't discussed the pay hike with his
fellow councilors.

Robinson said he was out of town before Wednesday's
meeting and asked Corporation Counsel Rory McMahon to submit
the proposal for him. Typically, a letter from the
sponsoring councilor would accompany such a proposal,
Majority Leader Bill Ryan said.

"It was a little mix-up," Robinson explained at
the session.

The Common Council has discussed a raise for the mayor in
recent months, Ryan said, but no action had been taken. The
manner in which the legislation was proposed caused
confusion, but Ryan said he believes the $115,000 salary
seemed fair.

According to city research, the Albany mayor this year
makes $135,403. The Buffalo mayor makes $105,000. The
Rochester mayor's salary is $127,694.

The proposed change was "held" on the agenda, so
councilors will not vote on it at their regular session
Monday. Ryan said that proposal will likely be withdrawn,
allowing for discussion among councilors. A new proposal
would be drawn up and submitted, Ryan said.

The amount of the raise, which would affect Mayor Matt
Driscoll's salary this year and next, was estimated
based on Consumer Price Index adjustments. Based on this
method, the mayor's position would pay $113,759 in 2008
and a projected $118,195 in 2009.

Driscoll said he just heard about the proposal Friday. He said he looked at the proposal as a question of fair pay for the position as compared to other Upstate cities....